This is the eye-catching new electric Seal saloon from Chinese manufacturer BYD - and it’s here to take on the Tesla Model 3.
BYD - aka ‘Build Your Dreams’ - is a major player on the global stage and its Atto 3 first arrived on these shores earlier this year.
You can read our review of the BYD Atto 3 here. The affordable Dolphin is due to start appearing on UK roads early next year and should be available to order imminently.
Now BYD has revealed full details of its sleek, sophisticated-looking Seal - a ‘sports saloon’ that’ll also compete with the Hyundai Ioniq 6.
One of the big selling points for BYD cars is the ‘Blade Battery’, which is produced in-house and offers, according to the manufacturer, ‘new levels of safety, durability, performance and efficient packaging’.
It’s a cobalt-free, ‘LFP’ (Lithium iron-phosphate) battery, too, which is cheaper to produce and more sustainable, which is another win.
The BYD Seal features a so-called ‘Cell-to-Body’ design, which means the battery is incorporated within the entire vehicle structure, improving handling by increasing torsional rigidity while also boosting interior space.
And with a range of up to 354 miles between charges, as well as rapid 150 kW charging capabilities, the new BYD Seal should prove to be a real rival to Tesla’s finest - with the ‘Long Range’ Model 3 having a range of up to 374 miles, by comparison.
The BYD Seal will be available in two main guises - entry-level ‘Design’ and range-topping ‘Excellence-AWD’.
The Design model adopts a single-motor, rear-wheel drive set-up and has power of 313 PS, which will propel the Seal from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. That means it’s precisely as quick as the equivalent Tesla Model 3.
The more powerful, all-wheel drive Excellence-AWD trim gets 530 PS and a 0-62 mph time of just 3.8 seconds. That’s not quite as rapid as the Model 3 ‘Performance’, but it’s getting there. The range for the Excellence-AWD Seal dips slightly to 323 miles.
Ultra-rapid charging can take the battery from 30% to 80% in just 26 minutes.
And BYD says the low-slung Seal should be a real driver’s car, being ‘athletic, sporty and dynamic’.
It’s the first BYD with independent suspension, with double wishbones at the front and a five-link suspension at the rear.
The Excellence-AWD Seal benefits from a newly developed Intelligent Torque Adaption Control (iTAC) system, which makes subtle adjustments to the power distribution in order to help keep you on the straight and narrow.
A large 400-litre boot is standard, as are sporty seats and a well-appointed cabin.
The BYD Seal is also equipped with a 15.6 inch rotatable screen that responds to voice commands, a 10.25-inch full instrument LCD panel, and a full suite of driver assistance and safety tech, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane change assist, and a 360-degree panoramic camera.
Deliveries of the BYD Seal are due to begin later this year, and we’ll let you know when we have vehicles available to lease.
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